An Introduction to MLA Citation

1
An Introduction toMLA Citation Format

• Clovis Community College Center

2
Table of Contents

• What is MLA?
• Why Use Documentation?
• Comparing Other Styles

• The Basic Format
• Cover Page
• Work Cited
• In-text Citations for Print and Electronic
  Sources

• Work Cited
• Books
• Magazines
• Websites
• Databases

3
What is MLA?

• MLA is the Modern Language Associations
• standardized method for citing sources for
• research as well as a method for
• formatting papers.
• MLA format is typically used for English
• and Humanities.

4
Why Use Documentation?

• It helps a writer support a thesis.
• It helps integrate quotations and other source
  material.
• It provides your reader with research information
  on your topic.
• And most importantly, it helps avoid plagiarism.

5
Comparing Other Styles

• APA American Psychological Association standard
  for documenting sources and formatting papers.
• This style is typically used for Social Sciences.
• Chicago Style This is yet another method of
  documentation which is typically used for
  Humanities and Social Sciences.
• Dont confuse these with MLA see the guidelines
  specific to this style.

6
The Basic Format
7
In-text Citations for Print and Electronic Sources

• After the borrowed phrase, put the authors last
  name in parentheses along with the page number.
• E.g. Estimates of the number of accidents caused
  by distracted drivers vary because little
  evidence is being collected (Smith 2).
• On electronic sources with no page number, simply
  put the last name.

8
The Work Cited Page
9
Work Cited Format for a Book

• For most books, arrange the information into
  three units, each followed by a period and one
  space.
• Start with the authors name, last name first.
• The title and subtitle, italicized.
• The place of publication, the publisher, and the
  date
• The medium of publication (print or web)
• E.g. Tan, Amy. The Bonesetters Daughter. New
  York Putnam, 2001. Print.

10
Work Cited Format for a Magazine

• List in order, separated by periods.
• The authors name
• The title of the article, in quotation marks
• The title of the magazine, italicized
• The date and the page numbers, separated by a
  colon
• The medium of publication (print or web)
• E.g. Kaplan, Robert D. History Moving North.
  Atlantic Monthly. Feb.1997 21. Web.

11
Work Cited Format for Websites

• For websites include these elements
• Authors name
• Title of the work in quotation marks
• Title of the site, italicized
• Date of publication or last update
• Sponsor of the site (if not named as the author
  or given as the title of the site)
• Date that you accessed the source
• The URL in angle brackets (optional)
• The medium of publication
• E.g. Shiva, Vandana. Bioethics A third world
  issue. Native Web. 15 Sept.
  2001.lthttp//www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/
• shiva. htmlgt. Web.

12
Work Cited Format for an Online Database

• For databases include these elements
• Publication information for the source
• The name of the database, italicized
• The name of the service
• The name and location of the library where you
  retrieved the article
• The date you accessed the source
• The URL of the service (optional)
• The medium of publication

13
Common Misconceptions About MLA

• MLA does not require a cover sheet as some may
  think cover sheets are used only for APA and
  Chicago.
• All sources listed on the works cited page must
  be in alphabetical order.
• All paraphrases quotations must be cited even
  if youve cited the source earlier in the essay.
• Double space everything, but do not include an
  extra space between paragraphs.

14
For more assistance, visit the Writing Center in
the open computer lab

• Hours
• Monday 900-200
• Tuesday 1000-300
• Wednesday 900-200
• Thursday 1000-300
• Phone number 325-5248
• Call or stop by to make an appointment with a
  tutor!